Inside Big Brother’s incredible casting process ahead of reboot – with half of longlist dumped due to psych test fail
IT’S just four days until we meet the first Big Brother housemates in five years as ITV’s reboot comes to screens.
And bosses have gone to impressive lengths to ensure the troops are ready for TV’s toughest social experiment.
Executive producer Katy Manley has told how the casting process took 10 months, with her team sifting through 30,000 applications before eventually interviewing some 500 people.
I can reveal that nearly half of applicants were ruled out after welfare and psychology tests – because ITV’s already-robust checks have been super-sized.
A welfare source said: “Obviously it’s been said already that ITV had built on even Love Island’s checks to be sure the housemates were up to the test.
“Big Brother was always a super challenging environment for normal people to face and never more so now with the world as it is today.
“So we weren’t surprised when nearly 50 per cent were ruled out almost immediately because of the psych tests. It’s reassuring, really.”
Manley opened up on the process in an interview with Deadline, adding: “Everyone used to know what Big Brother was but it’s been off air for five years so we wanted to make sure [contestants] understand what the show entails.
“Life in the house is really challenging – you are cut off from the outside world, your phone and the internet. It can be very boring at times and no one can predict what it will be like coming out of there.”
Commissioner Peter Tierney commented that “duty of care and welfare of contributors is now as important as any other element of the show.”
Fans have voiced concern these “woke” measures could wipe out the spontaneous heart of Big Brother.
One thing is for sure – all eyes will be on the spy house this Sunday night.
A Big Brother spokesman did not comment.
Bizbit
WE have had Samuel L Jackson promoting bread and we’ll soon it will be fellow film star Robert De Niro advertising Uber.
But Sir Trevor McDonald’s foray into TV ads takes the biscuit.
The legendary journalist and former newsreader, above, is the face of McVitie’s in a campaign for the original chocolate digestive.
The advert, using Sir Trevor’s voice, features an imitation ELVIS, an Argentine goat in a Messi football shirt and a coin-collecting hedgehog, in a reference to Sonic.
He says: “There can be only one . . . there’s only one King, one GOAT, one hedgehog.”
The ad, which will be shown from today, ends with an amateur radio broadcaster being compared to the famous newsreader.
Sir Trevor’s voiceover then adds: “There’s only one biscuit, the true original, and there’s only one person to tell you about it – me, Trevor McDonald.”
He appears on camera to conclude: “Actually, it’s Sir Trevor McDonald, and I’ll take it from here.”
Sue Dares Wins
SUE Perkins wants to prove it is not just manly blokes like Bear Grylls, Ben Fogle and Levison Wood who can cope with TV treks in extreme climates.
The comedian will be heading north to Alaska for her own adventure travel series.
The three-parter for Channel 5 follows Sue as she uncovers hidden gems and natural wonders in the unforgiving US state. She will also learn how to survive a bear attack and is even put through a plane crash simulator.
A TV source said: “When TV explorers travel to extreme environments, everything is obviously treated with great care and attention in terms of safety, preparedness and respect for the environment.
“With that, though, everything can sometimes feel terribly earnest.
“There will be none of that for Into Alaska With Sue Perkins. Even sub-zero temperatures can’t put her distinctive sense of humour and quirky approach on ice.
“She’ll be landing in the ‘Great Land’ with little to no idea of what she’s in for, before going through necessary survival training then journeying deeper and deeper into the Alaskan wilderness.
“Sue comes across everything from beautiful yet dangerous wildlife to doomsday prepping, survivalist living and the incredible culture of Native Alaskan villages.”
Filming for the series is under way and it will hit screens next year.
Sue said: “Alaska is a wild and unknown place, so getting the chance to immerse myself in the diverse cultures and landscapes was an opportunity I couldn’t miss.
“I’ve always loved taking on new challenges and meeting people from all walks of life.
“I’m thrilled to be taking the Channel 5 audience on this Alaskan adventure with me.”
I can’t wait to tune in . . . from the comfort of home.